Gary Lucy thought he was bidding on Paul Wellar’s guitar…but ended up with Madonna’s rugs

The returning Hollyoaks star reveals he's keen to sell them

Exclusive

BY PAUL SIMPER

15th July 2017, 12:04 am

Updated: 14th July 2017, 11:51 am

I was a blagger at school, but I did well. Now I tell my kids: “Don’t waste it.” I’ve got an 11-year-old, India, a six-year-old, Sadie, and the youngest Elvis is 18 months. India is really smart. I tell her to work hard at school.

Gary, 35, left Hollyoaks in 2002 but is reprising his role reportedly for at least an 18-month stint

My first kiss was when I was nine or 10, with Amber Hughes. It was a church kiss. I remember writing her a Valentine’s card and I bought her a troll. I went all out with a big puffy card and this other kid just wrote her a handmade card. So she went away to decide which boy she was going to choose – and she ended up picking me. But then we got to secondary school and it all went Pete Tong [wrong] because there were other girls!

Getting the Hollyoaks job as Luke Morgan [in 1999] was the day that changed my life. I was in Dream Team the year before that, which was a Sky1 football drama, but I thought: ‘This isn’t for me.’ That September, my agent put me up for That 70s Show, which had been a big American hit and became a UK show – but didn’t go down quite so well over here. I was up for that and for Hollyoaks, and thankfully I chose Hollyoaks and moved to Liverpool when I was 17. My mum made me go back to school to do my A levels, though, knowing full well I was starting work in the January. When I told one of the teachers I was going to be an actor in Hollyoaks, he said: “Never heard of it.” I said: “Well, you will.” And that was it.

The last time I cried was watching my daughter India horse-riding. She’s a fantastic rider. She’s just got her own pony. I went to see her do show-jumping for the first time and it scared the life out of me – it’s a horrendously worrying thing for a parent to watch your kid do. But she was incredible. I think the mixture of sheer relief and pride when she got to the end made me have a little cry.

SOAP HUNKS

From Gary Lucy to Marcus Patrick, this is what your favourite Hollyoaks heartthrobs look like now

Exclusive

BACK AGAIN

Sarah Jayne Dunn returns to Hollyoaks after seven years to reprise role of Mandy Richardson

LET LUCY

Here's why Gary Lucy is taking a break from Hollyoaks and when he'll be back

cast and luce

Gary Lucy pictured back on the Hollyoaks set as he returns to play Luke Morgan for the first time in 15 years

the real bill

Former Bill actor Gary Lucy has two run-ins with cops after hosting rowdy party in hotel room

My Hollyoaks cast members would say my most annoying habit is forgetting my lines. I’ve got a memory like a sieve. If there are any script amendments and I’ve learned it one way, then good luck trying to get me to learn it another way. I haven’t found a way to cheat. Ross Davidson – who played Luke’s dad Andy – God rest his soul [Ross died in 2006] used to find remembering lines a nightmare and would sometimes write them in the sink if he was doing the washing up! He had loads of little tricks.

I’ve kept some souvenirs from the TV shows I’ve been in. EastEnders gave me an Albert Square sign, all signed by the cast, and I’ve got a truncheon from The Bill. I’ve also got a signed Arsenal kit and Pele’s football boots. I don’t think he actually wore them. I’m not even sure he signed them. But they’ve got his name written on them and they’re in a nice frame!

The biggest waste of money I ever spent was on Madonna’s rugs – I bought them at a charity auction. I thought I was buying Paul Weller’s signed guitar! I came back into the room just as they mentioned that as the next lot, so I eagerly put my hand up but it wasn’t for the guitar – now I’ve got Madonna’s rugs rolled up in my dad’s garage. So if any of your readers are big Madonna fans, they know where to come. I’ve got the letter of authentication…

There was one reality show I got offered a lot of money to do, but I didn’t do it. I would have ended up strangling someone in there. I think you can guess which show that is… [TV Magazine guesses Celebrity Big Brother.] They put people in there for that reason. Some of the people on it are vile and I wouldn’t stand for that from me or anyone else. I don’t think that would have been a very good move for me.

Out of me and my wife, Tash, I’m the more romantic. I like to be romantic. I don’t write notes, though – the only notes are the ones she writes and I can’t repeat those! She calls me all the names under the sun. If I’m in the doghouse, the best way to get back out of it is to avoid her.

Don't know what to watch tonight? Get your daily guide to What's On TV from The Sun Online